Rebecca Carter '15- ODOT: Office of Environmental Science, Ecological Permits Section

Rebecca Carter

Class Year: 2015

Major(s): Environmental Science BS, Art w/Concentration in Communication Design

Hometown: Hilliard, Ohio

Internship: Ohio Department of Transportation: Office of Environmental Science, Ecological Permits Section

Internship Responsibilities:  As a part of the Office of Environmental Science for the Ohio Department of Transportation I was a member of a team of many experienced environmental specialists. The Department of Transportation is in charge of maintaining and expanding the State’s vast network of roads.  All ODOT projects undergo environmental evaluation to determine the impacts of their construction and operation with many laws and regulations. 

In the Eco section we are in charge of evaluating each project site to determining the environmental impacts and then coordinate with various state and federal agencies (such as the OEPA, ODNR, USFWS, and USACE) to ensure permit compliance or adequate mitigation.  All projects must submit an Ecological Survey Report (ESR) to the Office for review.   I was a part of this reviewing the ESRs that were submitted. Besides permit review I got to be involved in field reviews and surveys.  Sometimes projects have impacts that need mitigation and it is our job to find suitable sites. Some mitigation examples include: creation of new wetlands, improvements on existing wetlands, restoration of streams, and creation of bat habitats.  These sites require us to travel across the state and assess the sites in person. 

What I Learned: Most times we would be showing the USACE or OEPA how the site was preforming and meeting the permit standards. We would trek through the wetland/stream/forest in boots and waders looking at the quality of the site and how it was functioning.  Other times I was able to go into a stream and do a mussel recon to see if there would be a potential mussel community that would be affected by a project.  This internship has provided me with a hands-on experience working with experts in the field I am studying. 

Chelsea Menke '14 - Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Name:Chelsea Menke

Class: 2014

Major: Environmental Science

Hometown: Mount Vernon, OH

Internship: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Internship Responsibilities:

At my current internship, I’m in the Congo region of the zoo, so the animals vary from primates to hoof stock to a large cat. Because of the nature of the animals, I have to be with a keeper, so my duties are limited. I rake and separate clean and dirty hay to be disposed of, and sometimes I spray down cages with a sanitizer and a proxy. I also do diet prep, which consists of making a special juice drink for the primates. Last semester, in the Aquarium, my duties were completely different. It was much more independent, and I would do all the food prep, and smaller water changes. Having to figure everything out on my own really helped me grow. We collected eggs from Discovery Reef to hatch, and we grew algae to feed the fish. I would also take care of the stingrays. The stingray babies had to be separate and I would feed them and teach them what to eat, which we had to do 3-4 times a day. I also took chemical measurements from each of the tanks to make sure everything was alright for the fish to be swimming in.

What I learned:

In the Congo region specifically, I have learned how smart gorillas really are. They get a bad reputation for being like us but less smart, and that’s completely untrue. They are super smart, and they are very good at communicating with us. I've learned how much work goes into a position like this, and it’s really opened my eyes to what I want to do when I leave college.

Advice for the internship search:

Do not give up. Employers are busy people, and you are in your first steps into your career, and you need to give it your all. Make sure those steps are important steps. Figure out where you want to be in your career, and then go for one step ahead. An internship is a great way to have resume building experience, but it’ also helps you to grow and prepare for the real-world.

Advice for making the most of your internship:

Take it seriously. You are working with professionals in their environment, so act accordingly. Whether it’s paid or unpaid, treat it like you’re being paid the big-bucks. You’re doing everything that the actual employees are doing, so you should be just as cautious.